Alakia in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, was agog in honour of Omolara Afolabi and her siblings as they buried their father, Elder John Kehinde Komolafe, a.k.a. ‘Papa K’ in grand style on Friday, 26 July 2024.
The party kicked off with a Christian Wake service at 6, Sunday Ajiboye Street, Temidire, Alakia, Ibadan residence of the deceased on Thursday, 25 July, 2024.
Baba’s remains were interred the following day Friday 26 at his residence. The internment preceded an Outing Service on that same Friday at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Ife, Alakia, Ibadan.
Thereafter, guests were hosted to an elaborate and colourful reception at Divine Grace Events Centre, Along Alakia-Adegbayi Express Road, Ibadan. The reception was well-organised, and the hall was tastefully decorated. The decorations were made in Mint Green and White to match with the Ankara Aso-Ebi colour. This is coupled with the drapes, props and the hanging lights which transformed the hall into a kind of small paradise. The decoration was done by @jetevent. It was a beauty to behold. In fact, everything about the reception was just superb. Entry into the reception was strictly by access card. There were all kinds of sumptuous food in both local and continental dishes. Drinks of all kinds flowed endlessly.
This was aside the yummy finger foods, grills and dessert for the maximum enjoyment of all guests. It was also souvenirs galore at the party. Jide Adegbite, a.k.a. Baba Miliki’ was the master of ceremony while the Royal Band was on bandstand. The Komolafes surely didn’t leave any stone unturned in giving their late father a befitting burial. It was really the celebration of a life well spent of Papa K, as the deceased was popularly called in his lifetime.
Of course, Pa Komolafe deserves to be celebrated for having lived a Christ-like and impactful life.
Baba Komolafe, born into a humble background of a family from Ilesa, was loved and respected not only by his family but all those whose paths crossed his when he was alive.
In his quest for knowledge, Papa K trained himself in typing and shorthand and became a typist.
He started his career as a typist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) where he rose to the position of Secretary.
Not satisfied, Pa Komolafe, through adult education and distance learning, bagged a BSc degree in Management Accounting from Columbia Pacific University, USA. He became an Accountant with IITA between 1967-1976.
Pa Komolafe, however, left IITA and joined the Ibadan office of Lee Fakino as an Assistant Accountant. He worked at Lee Fakino between 1976-1981.
He later joined the Federal Agricultural Coordinating Unit (FACU) as a Unit Accountant at the Ibadan branch. Papa K, through a sponsored program by FACU, also had a six month post graduate course in Management Accounting from England.
He later left FACU to start his own business which focused on printing, small-scale animal production and honey businesses.
Elder Kehinde Komolafe was a well-traveled man in his lifetime. He had been to the UK, Canada and America.
He was a highly dedicated member of C.A.C, having started as a choirmaster and organist at C.A.C, Oke-Igbala, Idikan, Ibadan. He was also a prominent member of C.A.C Agbowo and one of the founding members and elders of CAC, Oke-Ife 2, Alaja and C.A.COke-Ife, Alakia 3.
Baba Komolafe is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maria Iyabode Komolafe (Nee Awotunde) and their lovely children, as well as grandchildren.
His children are all successful and doing wonderfully well in their various chosen careers. The children are Dr. Modupe Adesina, an Agricultural professor and specialist based in Canada; Olumuyiwa Komolafe, an Ibadan based Electrical Engineer; Mrs. Omolara Afolabi, a Healthcare IT Analyst based in Houston Texas; Oluwatosin Adeleke, a Healthcare Specialist based in Houston Texas, and Opeyemi Komolafe, a Logistics Specialist based Lagos.
Some of the guests who came from different parts of the world to grace the occasion include the Afolabi family from New Jersey; the Awotunde and Awodun families from Kwara State, and the Adesina and Adeleke families.
Others are Fela Oyeneyin from Dallas Texas; Mrs Bukky Osho from Georgia USA; Mr & Mrs Adebowale from Lagos and Engineer Osokomaya from Lagos.
Also in attendance were Pastor Sunday Obiloya and his wife; Pastor Femi George from Ilorin; Mrs Solarin; Mrs Rachel Alao; MGSBi 94 set; and Abacol Group, among others.
–Dare Adeniran
08057639079
